"It's devastating. Everything's gone. It's burnt up," said Sandra, Carole's daughter. "Gone: heirlooms that she'll never get back. Pictures of kids that she'll never get back. It's so sad."

"Her whole life - she's like my whole life, there it goes," said Summer, Carole's granddaughter. "Why on Christmas Day do I have to go through this - and there's no answers."

The case started Christmas around 7 p.m. with a report that a man threatened his mother with a firearm. The suspect fled before law enforcement arrived, the sheriff said.

But he came back around 9:30 p.m. This time a deputy responded and found the suspect standing outside the home holding a rifle equipped with a laser scope, the sheriff said.

The suspect - later identified as Raymon Eugene Beasley, 54, of Scio - refused voice commands from the deputy and forced his way into his mother's home, the sheriff said. Beasely's mother was able to escape out another door.

The Linn County Regional SWAT deployed around the house to contain the situation while negotiators talked with Beasley, who refused to come out of the house, the sheriff said.

At approximately 12:14 a.m. Thursday morning, heavy smoke started coming out of the house.

Beasley came to a window and was pulled from the home by the SWAT team, the sheriff said.

Beasley was treated for smoke inhalation before being taken to jail.

Deputies arrested Beasley on charges of Burglary I and Menacing, as well as outstanding warrants out of Washington County and the Lebanon Municipal Court.

The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Oregon State Police with the help of the Linn-Benton Fire Investigative Team.

Carole Knox was admitted to an area hospital for unrelated health issues. Family members say she is in stable condition.

Knox's family has established a relief fund for her in hopes of helping to rebuild her home and her life. To donate, an account is open at all Sterling Banks under Carole Knox Fire Relief Fund.